There are those who would set fire to the world.
We are in danger.
There is only time to work slowly.
There is no time not to love.
(Deena Metzger)
There are many who have said "I want to live in a world where George Zimmerman offered Trayvon Martin a ride home, to get him out of the rain, that night." Yes. And what am I doing, what are YOU doing, to create that world? (White folks and people of privilege, see the link at the bottom for some suggestions.)
I've
noticed more than a few folks posting on their facebook that they are
considering "unfriending" folks because they've discovered that these
friends are less sympathetic to the challenges of being black and brown
in America than they originally thought. Hearts are breaking and so are
friendships and maybe even communities. Those of you who need to take
care of yourselves, please do so. Those of you who still have some
energy to continue conversations, please do so. Sending love to all. May
we find the healing we all need and may we continue the work, even as
our hearts break.
“full-bodied
grieving acts like a tonic. It purifies and revivifies… Let your grief
be as full of joy as it is of sorrow. Let it be proof of how much you’ve
loved” (296, The Seeker's Guide by Elizabeth Lesser)
I'm
not really having trouble with the verdict. The law is the law. As far
as my non-legally-trained self can tell... the jury did what the law
seemed to demand. I'm having trouble with the law that Florida passed,
the systemic racism that permeated the Martin/Zimmerman encounter, the
media frenzy, and the racist subtext (and maintext) affecting all the
discussions about the encounter. Most of all,
I have trouble, really big trouble with the reality that mothers of
black boys have a realistic fear when their boys simply walk down a
street carrying no weapon and with no intent to do harm of any kind,
when mothers of white boys do not have that same fear. It is real that
Women are in danger due to "isms", Gays Lesbians and sexual or gender
non-conformers are in danger due to "isms", and people with darker
complexions than mine are in danger due to "isms." NOT OK.
Focusing
on the Zimmerman trial verdict is a potential red herring. I say...
Focus on the systemic racism, hatred, micro-aggressions, outright
aggression, inequalities, violence, fear, and flawed laws... all the
things that contributed to the death of a young man that should not have
happened. The loss to family and friends. The destruction of a man's
life (I'm pretty confident that Zimmerman's life
is forever changed, and not in a good way.) and that is only the stuff
that made the news. So much more pain has cascaded from this one event.
This event is not unique. We must focus and ACT: We won't do it
perfectly, but we must try to make the changes to create a world more
filled with compassion, love, and the kind of justice that is bigger
than law books and statutes and procedures. The moral arc of the
universe must bend toward justice. And it isn't going to do it all by
itself. We need to help it!
I've been thinking about this. I'm not
Trayvon. I'm not a 17 year old black boy. I don't have his experience
walking down the street, buying a soda, applying for a job, interacting
with school officials. AND we ARE all connected. Oppression
ANYWHERE is oppression everywhere. We are one people. So I stand with
Trayvon, and all the other black and brown people who survive, or not,
in this United States. but I do not have their experience. When I
pretend I do, I might forget to listen and be an ally and be the best ME
I can be.
For white people who realize something isn't
right, but aren't sure what the next steps are to help make it better.
Here's one person's story. It rings with truth. And as I said about the
bees. It feels so good to know that it is possible to DO something
helpful! http://www.zcommunications.org/take-the-red-pill-reflections-for-people-struggling-with-the-zimmerman-verdict-on-how-the-rodney-king-verdict-changed-my-life-for-the-better-by-chris-crass
